Fruit and vegetable washing device with vertical circulative flow and extendable body for submerged faucet connection



Sept. 21, 965 c. w. RANSON 3,207,483

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASHING DEVICE WITH VERTICAL CIRCULATIVE FLOW AND EXTENDABLE BODY FOR SUBMERGED FAUCET CONNECTION 'Filed Jan. 28, 1963 4 lab FIG I United States Patent M 3 207,483 FRUIT AND VEGETAliLE WASHING DEVICE WITH VERTICAL CIRCULAT IVE FLOW AND EXTEND- ABLE BODY FOR SUBMERGED FAUCET CON- NECTION Charles W. Ranson, 7906 Agnew Ave., Los Angeles 45, Calif. Filed Jan. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,323 6 Claims. (Cl. 259-4) The present invention relates to a washing device for fruits, vegetables, and other solid food units. The device provides for imparting to contained liquid a two dimensional circulative flow in a vertical plane. Provision is included for the circulative liquid flow to receive sufficient kinetic energy from tangential inlet liquid flow to effect continuous vertical circulative motion of the fruits or vegetables.

Objects of the invention are to provide for the thorough cleaning of all surface areas of fruits and vegetables in minimum time and without bruises or damage.

Other objects are to provide a simple cleaning device having no moving mechanical parts, and which can be used conveniently in household kitchen sinks, and which can utilize kinetic energy available from conventional household faucet water.

Other objects are to provide reduced kinetic energy losses by introducing faucet water flow directly into circulative washing water thereby allowing easier starting of circulative flow of a static food pile, larger load washing at low faucet water pressure, and larger load washing for a given size of washing device.

Another object is to eliminate the difficulty of providing an extension conduit requiring leak resistant end adapters for the faucet and washing device.

An object is to eliminate the inconvenience of installing and disconnecting an extension conduit at each use of the device.

Another object is to provide for preventing the intake of air at openings in faucet aerators during food unit washing and preventing a corresponding loss of inlet liquid momentum and kinetic energy.

An object is to prevent the wedging of circulating food units between the submerged faucet nozzle and the side walls of the device without reducing the augmentation of the inlet liquid jet by contained circulating liquid.

Another object is to provide for adaptation of the washing device to various heights of sink floor to faucet outlet combinations.

An object is to provide a washing device of the type described but being vertically elongated and having a height greater than the length to provide optimum material utilization in a configuration adaptable to various size sink and faucet assemblies.

Another object is to provide a configuration having compact proportions for minimum required storage space.

A number of other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the views.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the fruit and vegetable washing device properly positioned beneath an open water faucet. The arrows indicate the flow path of the circulative liquid flow. The hatched base line represents the floor of a conventional household kitchen sink having a fixed distance relationship with overhead faucet 10.

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of FIGURE 1 showing the comparatively narrow width of the washing device.

The washing of fruits and vegetables in kitchen practice has heretofore been accomplished by the use of a 3,207,483 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 colander, a conventional kitchen pan, or by hand rubbing under an open faucet.

The colander is a bowl shaped sieve with a base. For food washing purposes, the colander is held under an open faucet while containing a pile of food units. The bulk of the water follows the path of least resistance and flows around rather than through the pile of food units. The velocity of the water seeping between the food units is low due to resistance so that liquid scouring and dissolving action is relatively inefficient and slow. Also the food units lie static so that areas of mutual contact and areas of contact with the container receive no washing.

The conventional kitchen pan is generally used for washing by filling the bottom of the pan with food units and most of the remainder with water. The pan is then shaken by hand to simulate the action of a tumbling barrel. The cleaning action is highly erratic and inconsistent. Rinsing is only partial as the liquid is poured out. Bruises and surface damage can be done to berries and delicate skin fruits by the shifting weight of the total load.

The prior art has also provided a narrow two dimensional flow washing device of the present type. This device is described in my copending application of Serial No. 465,822, effective filing date Dec. 3, 1962. Said prior device sets on the floor of the sink, and an elastic liquid conduit may be extended from the faucet nozzle to the tangential inlet unit of the device. The present configuration provides comparable performance but without the problems, inconvenience and cost of the extension conduit and associated end connectors. The present invention improves upon the various prior devices and provides particular advantages as described herein.

Referring to the several figures, washing device 1 includes side walls 2 and 3 extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart in relative proximity. A lateral wall 4 extends between side walls 2 and 3 to provide a bottom wall 4a and two opposite end walls 4b and 4c. The bottom wall 4a and end wall 4b are faired together by radius R to provide a curved inner surface, as shown.

The inner surface of end wall 4b extends vertically above point A, which is the point of tangency with radius R Point B indicates the lower point of tangency with radius R The opposite portion of lateral wall 4 is curved and faired as indicated by radius R The internal surface of lateral wall 4 provides a smooth, curved perimeter flow path for contained liquid.

Washing device 1 includes upper extension portion 5b which is moveably associated with base portion 5a. Extension portion Sb includes side walls 6 and 7 extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart in relative proximity. End walls 4bb and 4cc extend laterally to cooperate with side walls 6 and 7. Extension portion 5b fits closely over the base portion with a slip fit so that relative motion can be achieved by hand pressure.

To assure positive friction interference between extension portion 5b and the base portion, end wall 4cc is provided with a vertically extending head 8 which continuously presses against end wall 40 over at least a portion of the length thereof. Similarly, side wall 7 is provided with a vertically extending head 9 which continuously presses against side Wall 3. Extension portion 5b is constructed with materials and wall thicknesses such that normal operating pressures and loads will not cause extension portion 5b to move relative to the base portion. However, the structure is porportioned so that a moderate vertical hand force will exceed the friction resistance force and cause extension portion 5b to move vertically with respect to the base portion.

The liquid flow is introduced by faucet 10 which is positioned adjacent to end wall 4bb or 4b. This provides inlet flow which is tangential to radius R This establishes circulative liquid flow. The discharge end of faucet 10 is submerged below upper perimeter 11 at the top of extension portion 5b. The submerged inlet liquid is introduced with a relatively efl'lcient mixing of the inlet flow and the contained circulative flow as has been demonstrated by controlled laboratory tests. The more eflicient mixing pattern results in easier starting of circulative motion for a static food unit pile and in larger load capacities as compared to performance where faucet is not submerged. A contributing factor to the efliciency is the augmentation of the inlet liquid jet by contained circulating liquid. A gross jet results having larger effective mass and lower velocity with reduced eddy losses and conservation of kinetic energy.

Deflector screen 12, FIGURE 2, is held by frame 13 and functions to deflect food units and prevent them from becoming wedged between the submerged portion of faucet 10 and side walls 6 and 7 during operation. Frame 13 is bonded to the side walls and is provided with a port 14 to admit faucet 10. Thus, contained liquid is free to flow around the submerged nozzle of faucet 10 and to be swept along for augmentation purposes in relatively continuous fluid streamlines with minimum eddy losses.

For operation, the washing device assembly is placed on the sink floor and extension portion 5b is extended until upper perimeter 11 contacts faucet 10 so that the faucet nozzle end and aerator openings 15 become lower than upper perimeter 11.

Liquid exhaust occurs along upper perimeter 11 or through an optional closure member having apertures or the like.

Washing device 1 contains liquid vertically within a width, W, of relatively narrow proportions as shown in FIGURE 2. This lateral confinement provides for two dimensional liquid flow in a vertical, plane. The circulative flow pattern is induced by the tangential inlet jet and the curved inner surfaces of thelateral wall, FIGURE 1. Two dimensional confinement contributes greatly to liquid flow control and reduces dissipation of kinetic energy from lateral flow and turbulence.

As stated above, the side walls 2 and 3 and the side walls 6 and 7 are in the state of being mutually near. This side wall proximity endows the washing device with a width less than the length or height or each. The device has been found to be operable using conventional household faucets and a reasonable container volume when width W is about one half or less of the length or height of the device. As the width of the device is decreased with respect to the length or height, the efficiency and load capacity increase. When the width of the device is relatively large with respect to the length or height the circulative two dimensional flow pattern is not obtained, but localized random liquid agitation occurs at the region of faucet water entry. This results in erratic and negligible washing action. The specific side wall proximity required for satisfactory performance of any given installation depends upon a number of variables including the liquid mass flow rate, the height and length of the device, the internal contours of the device, and densities and dimensions of the food units to becleaned, and the size of the wash load.

The kinetic energy of the inlet jet is conserved by the relatively large proportions of radii R and R and by the substantially two dimensional liquid flow pattern.-

The overflow liquid is of low velocity and low kinetic energy loss. Viscosity functions to maintain the entire liquid body in a state of circulative flow.

The two dimensional circulative liquid flow in a vertical plane imparts similar circulative motion to contained food units. The submerged food units are buoyed by forces equal to the weights of the displaced liquid. Consequently, only a relatively small amount of liquid drag force is required to lift a given food unit vertically against the gravity force. The drag force of a solid body in non-laminar liquid flow is proportional to the relative velocity squared. Hence, by constructing washing device 1 as described to conserve kinetic energy and to maintain high liquid rotative velocity, the food units are forced to rise and circulate with the liquid. Food unit circulative washing has. been achieved using the water jet from conventional household faucets. It was found that the food units experience local tumbling as they move in general circulative how. This tumbling action adds to the liquid scouring effect and to the cleaning by mutual attrition between food units.

During operation of the washing device, insecticides, fungicides and other chemicals and soil particles are progressively removed from food units by a continuously diluting liquid flow. At the conclusion of washing, when faucet 10 is closed, drainage occurs automatically through auxiliary exhaust ports 16 permitting food units conveniently to be removed from the device without liquid at spout 17. Exhaust ports 16'also function to remove sand and non-soluble particles during the washing operation.

A further important feature of the present invention is to provide in a washing device of the type described a height greater than the length for the container portion. The prior art has provided multiple configurations of washing devices of the type described and all illustrated heights less than the lengths. That is the obvious, logical construction in order to provide optimum liquid flow conditions resulting in larger wash loads, easier starting up of a static load, and operation at lower available water pressures. These advantages resulted from the efficient flow turning at larger radii and a larger flat bed of food units having a shallow depth for easier starting from a static condition. The present deviation from prior practice by providing a large height to length ratio of the container portion is. contrary to design principles and was not obvious as either feasible or desirable. However, gains to be made in reduced storage space required and in more economical use of material for a given volu-. metric requirement are advantages of the present configuration. The vertically elongated container portion of the device has been verified as operationally practical by laboratory testing.

For heavy duty service the device includes a' set screw 18 to lock extension portion 5b with respect to the base portion.

To prevent liquid leakage between the extension portion 5b and the base portion, a flexible rubber seal 19 is bonded to the lower perimeter of extension portion 5b. The seal extends around the four sides of the device, and continuously exerts a light pressure against the four walls of the base portion to prevent liquid escape.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated it is to be understood that what is defined by Letters Patent is specified by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically andspaced apart, a lateral wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in unitaryrelation, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surface of at least one of said end walls substantially faired to provide a substantially curved inner surface atthe region of juncture, and a vertical extension portion, said: extension portion including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, and two opposite lateral end walls extending between said extension portion side walls and connecting therewith in unitary relation, and said washing device and; said extension portion operatively associat d in a telescopingrlike manner.

2. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a lateral wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in unitary relation, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surface of at least one of said end walls substantially faired to provide a substantially curved inner surface at the region of juncture, and a vertical extension portion, said extension portion including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, and two opposite lateral end walls extending between said extension portion side walls and connecting therewith in unitary relation, and said washing device and said extension portion operatively associated in a telescoping-like manner, and means for slideably sealing said extension portion with respect to said washing device.

3. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a lateral wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in unitary relation, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surface of at least one of said end walls substantially faired to provide a substantially curved inner surface at the region of juncture, and a vertical extension portion, said extension portion including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, and two opposite lateral end walls extending between said extension portion side walls and connecting therewith in unitary relation, and said washing device and said extension portion operatively associated in a telescoping-like manner, and operative means for securing said extension portion in fixed vertical position with respect to said washing device.

4. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a lateral wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in unitary relation, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surface of at least one of said end walls substantially faired to provide a substantially curved inner surface at the region of juncture, and a vertical extension portion, said extension portion including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, and two opposite lateral end walls extending between said extension portion side walls and connecting therewith in unitary relation, and said washing device and said extension portion operatively associated in a telescoping-like manner, and a deflector portion, said deflector portion positioned substantially above said curved inner surface, and means for support ing said deflector portion with respect to said device.

5. A washing device as in claim 4, and an inlet port in said deflector portion.

6. A washing device as in claim 4, and said deflector portion including screen-like deflector material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,600 8/ 88 Thompson 2208 X 932,806 8/09 Paulson 2208 968,633 9/10 Andrews 22O-8 1,015,455 1/12 Neesham 220-8 1,053,223 2/13 Robertson 97 1,254,768 11/17 Randall 259-36 1,262,962 4/ 18 Lewis. 1,495,594 5/24 Hutchins 2208 X 1,837,784 12/ 31 Luckett 2208 2,778,389 1/57 McGillivray 141172 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WASHING DEVICE INCLUDING TWO SIDE WALLS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND VERTICALLY AND SPACED APART, A LATERAL WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM WALL AND TWO OPPOSITE END WALLS AND CONNECTING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS IN UNITARY RELATION, AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID END WALLS SUBSTANTIALLY FAIRED TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY CURVED INNER SURFACE AT THE REGION OF JUNCTURE, AND A VERTICAL EXTENSION PORTION, SAID EXTENSION PORTION INCLUDING TWO SIDE WALLS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND VERTICALLY AND SPACED APART, AND TWO OPPOSITE LATERAL END WALLS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID EXTENSION PORTION SIDE WALLS AND CONNECTING THEREWITH IN UNITARY RELATION, AND SAID WASHING DEVICE AND SAID EXTENSION PORTION OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED IN A TELESCOPING-LIKE MANNER. 